Gasoline-Range Hydrocarbons Produced From Three Types Of Synthesis Gas Using A Mo/Hzsm-5 Catalyst

Biomass-derived hydrocarbons that include gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel will help replace finite fossil fuel hydrocarbons of the same range. This study showed that temperature could be controlled in a scaled-up reactor system using three types of syngas. The CO conversion, selectivity and amount of product created from each type of syngas were examined. Clean syngas composed of 40% H2, 20% CO, 12% CO2, 2% CH4, and 26 % N2 was used to test ideal stoichiometric molar values. Clean syngas composed of 19% H2, 20% CO, 12% CO2, 2% CH4, and 47 % N2 was used to test an ideal contaminateree synthesis gas situation to mimic our particular downdraft gasifier. Gasifier wood syngas composed of 19% H2, 20% CO, 12% CO2, 2% CH4, 46 % N2, and 1% O2 was used in this study to determine the feasibility of using gasified biomass syngas to produce gasolinerange hydrocarbons

Production of Hydrocarbons from Gasified Biomass Using Bifunctional Catalysts

The following chapters deal with the chemistry, catalytic poisoning, newer catalyst technologies, and possible future solutions to increase the efficiency of creating high-value products by thermochemically converting gasified biomass (producer gas). Chapter 1 puts emphasis on multifunctional catalysts containing transition metals that are used for renewable fuel production. High-value products such as gasoline-range hydrocarbons, dimethyl ether (DME), aldehydes, isobutane, isobutene and other olefins can be produced with gasified biomass due to the gas containing syngas (H2 + CO). The chemistry and production of these chemicals is discussed in the review. Chapter 2 describes the reactor design of a bench scale system and results after using a Mo/HZSM- 5 catalyst for aromatic hydrocarbon creation. This chapter also discusses issues that came with trying to control the temperature without any reactor intercooling. Chapter 3 shows the feasibility of using a particular multifunctional catalyst with a lab scale system and also shows the importance of certain process variables including temperature, space velocity, gas ratios, and pressure. The subject of the importance of the cleanliness of the producer gas is also discussed so that maximum high-value product yield can be achieved with the greatest efficiency. Chapter 4 discusses the implementation of a bench scale and pilot scale reactor design (both with intercooling) and the results of scale-up when using the catalyst mentioned in Chapter 3. Chapter 5 involves the modelling of an industrialized system with Aspen Plus. The economics of industrial plants to produce hydrocarbons from coal or wood feedstocks at scales of 5, 50 and 5000 tons per day were modeled using CAPCOST

Gasoline-Range Hydrocarbons Produced From Three Types Of Synthesis Gas Using A Mo/Hzsm-5 Catalyst

Biomass-derived hydrocarbons that include gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel will help replace finite fossil fuel hydrocarbons of the same range. This study showed that temperature could be controlled in a scaled-up reactor system using three types of syngas. The CO conversion, selectivity and amount of product created from each type of syngas were examined. Clean syngas composed of 40% H2, 20% CO, 12% CO2, 2% CH4, and 26 % N2 was used to test ideal stoichiometric molar values. Clean syngas composed of 19% H2, 20% CO, 12% CO2, 2% CH4, and 47 % N2 was used to test an ideal contaminateree synthesis gas situation to mimic our particular downdraft gasifier. Gasifier wood syngas composed of 19% H2, 20% CO, 12% CO2, 2% CH4, 46 % N2, and 1% O2 was used in this study to determine the feasibility of using gasified biomass syngas to produce gasolinerange hydrocarbons

Fry Street Quartet with Guest Artists Madeline Adkins & Jason Hardink

2017-2018 Visiting Artists & Scholars Series present the Fry Street Quartet with guest artists Madeline Adkins & Jason Hardink.https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/music_programs/1145/thumbnail.jp

Used-habitat calibration plots: a new procedure for validating species distribution, resource selection, and step-selection models

“Species distribution modeling” was recently ranked as one of the top five “research fronts” in ecology and the environmental sciences by ISI's Essential Science Indicators (Renner and Warton 2013), reflecting the importance of predicting how species distributions will respond to anthropogenic change. Unfortunately, species distribution models (SDMs) often perform poorly when applied to novel environments. Compounding on this problem is the shortage of methods for evaluating SDMs (hence, we may be getting our predictions wrong and not even know it). Traditional methods for validating SDMs quantify a model's ability to classify locations as used or unused. Instead, we propose to focus on how well SDMs can predict the characteristics of used locations. This subtle shift in viewpoint leads to a more natural and informative evaluation and validation of models across the entire spectrum of SDMs. Through a series of examples, we show how simple graphical methods can help with three fundamental challenges of habitat modeling: identifying missing covariates, non-linearity, and multicollinearity. Identifying habitat characteristics that are not well-predicted by the model can provide insights into variables affecting the distribution of species, suggest appropriate model modifications, and ultimately improve the reliability and generality of conservation and management recommendations

Fry Street Quartet and Friends

The Fry Street Quartet preform with guest artists Brant Bayless on the viola, Kathryn Eberle on the violin, and Jason Hardink on the piano.https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/music_programs/1041/thumbnail.jp

Statistical Searches for Microlensing Events in Large, Non-Uniformly Sampled Time-Domain Surveys: A Test Using Palomar Transient Factory Data

Many photometric time-domain surveys are driven by specific goals, such as searches for supernovae or transiting exoplanets, which set the cadence with which fields are re-imaged. In the case of the Palomar Transient Factory (PTF), several sub-surveys are conducted in parallel, leading to non-uniform sampling over its $\sim$$20,000 \mathrm{deg}^2$ footprint. While the median $7.26 \mathrm{deg}^2$ PTF field has been imaged $\sim$40 times in \textit{R}-band, $\sim$$2300 \mathrm{deg}^2$ have been observed $>$100 times. We use PTF data to study the trade-off between searching for microlensing events in a survey whose footprint is much larger than that of typical microlensing searches, but with far-from-optimal time sampling. To examine the probability that microlensing events can be recovered in these data, we test statistics used on uniformly sampled data to identify variables and transients. We find that the von Neumann ratio performs best for identifying simulated microlensing events in our data. We develop a selection method using this statistic and apply it to data from fields with $>$10 $R$-band observations, $1.1\times10^9$ light curves, uncovering three candidate microlensing events. We lack simultaneous, multi-color photometry to confirm these as microlensing events. However, their number is consistent with predictions for the event rate in the PTF footprint over the survey's three years of operations, as estimated from near-field microlensing models. This work can help constrain all-sky event rate predictions and tests microlensing signal recovery in large data sets, which will be useful to future time-domain surveys, such as that planned with the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope.Comment: 13 pages, 14 figures; accepted for publication in ApJ. fixed author lis

Field evaluation of physical barriers against subterranean termites and ambrosia beetles in a CLT wall envelope system

The effectiveness of physical barriers against subterranean termites was evaluated in a 34-week field test in coastal Mississippi by installing Obex11, a commercial polyethylene flashing, and Termimesh, a stainless-steel mesh in 3-ply 280mm(width) x 450mm(length) cross laminated timber (CLT) walls. Damage showed that both barriers performed significantly better than the no barrier control with respect to termite damage as evaluated by visual rating and mud tube length.  Obex11, however, like the no barrier control, was more vulnerable to attack by Ambrosiodmus minor (Stebbing), an invasive ambrosia beetle, with both treatments exhibiting significantly longer bore trails than those found in Termimesh.&nbsp

Fry Street Quartet

This program features music by composers who were enchanted by different idioms found in folk music. Michael Ellison and Antonín Dvořák were deliberate in their use of folk models. Melodies and textures that evoke Czech, American, and Turkish folk music play a central role in the respective musical identity of each composer.https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/music_programs/1204/thumbnail.jp

Fry Street Quartet

A performance by the Fry Street Quartet with special guests Kathryn Eberle and Jason Hardink.https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/music_programs/1226/thumbnail.jp